The National Premier Leagues Victoria Women's, known commonly as the NPL Victoria Women's or NPLV Women's, is a professional women's soccer league in Victoria, Australia which serves as the top-tier of women's soccer in Victoria, and is part of the National Premier Leagues Women’s structure, which is administered by Football Victoria. Prior to the introduction of the NPL in Victoria in 2016, the league was known as the Women's Victorian Premier League.
The league is contested by eleven clubs, playing a 22 round season, with the regular season running from February to September. The finals series is contested between the top four clubs, with the top two playing against third and fourth in a semi-final and the winners contesting the grand final.
WNPL Years (2016–present) The initial members of the WNPL were Alamein, Bayside United, Bulleen Lions, Box Hill United, Calder United, Heidelberg United, Geelong Galaxy United, Senior NTC and Southern United. In the following season, South Melbourne was admitted to the league who went on to win the inaugural Finals Series, 5–4 on penalties against Geelong Galaxy United. South Melbourne again made the Grand Final the following season losing 3–1 to Bulleen Lions. Despite not being crowned Champions, South Melbourne were successful in the regular season who were crowned Premiers of the 2018 season. This was a feat achieved by the club as well in their initial season in the renewed league. Calder United were crowned Grand Final Champions for the second time defeating Bulleen Lions 1–0. This was after Calder were crowned league champions prior to the finals series.
On the 27th of October 2021, Football Victoria officially announced the league would be professionalised, scrapping the amateur nature of the league.
After the cancellation of both the 2020 season and the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that no promotion/relegation would apply for the following season.
The 2023 season was the first time teams could be promoted since the restructuring of the women's divisions for the 2020 season. Preston Lions FC, Boroondara-Carey Eagles, and Southern United were the teams promoted from the VPL Women's after they finished in the top three positions during the 2022 season.
Football Victoria announce on 21 August 2025, that A-League Women Clubs Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City would enter an academy team into the 2026 NPLW Victoria season after years of collective lobbying. They would replace FV Emerging team. The league would also expand from 12 teams to 14 teams in the 2026 Season.
Current clubs (2026) Avondale FC and Keilor Park were promoted from the Victorian Premier League Women's for the 2026, as well as Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City ere also admitted into the league season bringing the number of teams in the competition to 14. The following clubs will take part in the 2026 NPL Victoria Women's season: TeamLocationStadiumAlameinGlen IrisDorothy Laver West ReserveAvondale FCParkvilleAvenger ParkBentleigh GreensCheltenhamKingston Heath Soccer ComplexBoroondara-Carey EaglesBulleenDavid Barro StadiumBox Hill UnitedBox HillWembley ParkBulleen LionsBulleenDavid Barro StadiumEssendon RoyalsEssendonCross Keys ReserveHeidelberg UnitedHeidelberg WestOlympic ParkKeilor ParkKeilor ParkKeilor Park ReserveMelbourne City YouthCranbourne EastCity Football AcademyMelbourne Victory YouthBundooraHome of the MatildasPreston Lions FCReservoirB.T. Connor ReserveSouth MelbourneAlbert ParkLakeside StadiumSpring HillsCaroline SpringsSpringside Recreationa Reserve
Honours
Season League Grand Final Champions League Premiers 1999 VPL – Cranbourne Comets 2000 – Ringwood City 2001 – Box Hill Inter 2002 – Cranbourne Comets 2003 – Box Hill Inter 2004 Box Hill Inter Cranbourne Comets 2005 Box Hill Inter Cranbourne Comets 2006 Box Hill Inter Box Hill Inter 2007 Heidelberg United Heidelberg United 2008 Box Hill Inter Box Hill Inter 2009 Box Hill Inter Box Hill Inter 2010 Box Hill Inter Box Hill Inter 2011 South Melbourne Sandringham2012Box Hill UnitedBox Hill United2013SandringhamSouth Melbourne2014South MelbourneSouth Melbourne2015South MelbourneBoroondara Eagles2016 NPLCalder UnitedCalder United2017South MelbourneSouth Melbourne2018Bulleen LionsSouth Melbourne2019Calder UnitedCalder United2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.2022Calder UnitedCalder United2023South MelbourneBulleen Lions2024Heidelberg UnitedBulleen Lions2025Box Hill UnitedHeidelberg United
Honours table TeamChampionsYear(s) wonPremiersYear(s) wonTotal combinedDoubles82004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 202532001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012125 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)52011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 202342013, 2014, 2017, 201882 (2014, 2017)32016, 2019, 202232016, 2019, 202243 (2016, 2019, 2022)22007, 202422007, 202531 (2007)1201822023, 20243120131201120–41999, 2002, 2004, 200540–1200010–120151
Player records
As of 1 January 2025 (prior to commencement of 2025 NPLVW season). Players listed in bold are still actively playing in the NPLVW.
RankPlayerAppearances1 Natasha Dakic140 2 Kirstie Shearing 135 3 Tessa Sernio 131 4 Emma Robers 130 5 Elly Torre 127 6 Emily Dolzan 126 Emily Shields 8 Stephanie Galea 124 9 Sienna Fogarty 121 10 Erin Hudson 120
Top scorers As of 1 January 2023 (prior to commencement of 2023 NPLVW season).
RankSeasonsNameGoals 1 2018–2021 Catherine Zimmerman 81 2 2016–2021 Melina Ayres 78 3 2016–2019 Rachel Alonso 60 4 2017–2022 Aleksandra Sinclair 57 2016–2019 Melanie Camilleri 6 2016–2019 Caitlin Friend 48 7 2017–2019 Angela Beard 47 8 2016–2022 Lia Privitelli 46 9 2017–2019 Kelsey Minton 41 10 2016–2019 Cindy Lay 35
See also National Premier Leagues Victoria Men's
References